Cleaning device for excavators



Mar, zo, i923. 11,449,223.

G. H. GREIIVIAN.

CLEANING DEVICE FR EXCAVATORSJ FILED NOV. I4 I92I Patented ii/lar. 261i,T1923.

man y veri c GEORG-E H. GREEMAN, F GARNEEL, IOVJ'A.

CLEANING`DEVICE FOR EXCAVATORS.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Grenen H. Giannini?,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Garner, in the county ofHancock and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Cleaning Devices for Excavators; and l do hereby declarethe .following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enicable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My present invention provides an improved cleaning device or scraper forexcavators of the power-driven type wherein excavating devices,variously designated as shovels, buckets or spades, are employed.

Cleaning devices for the above purpose have generally beenspring-pressed or yieldinglyk mounted to prevent breakage of the machineelements when largev rocks or other hard materials are picked up. Mostfrequently, such cleaning devices or scrapers have been spring-pressedback to normal position by movement reverse from their yielding orrock-cleaning movement; but sometimes, the cleaning devices or scrapershave been held in position by shearing pins., which would give awaybefore the machine elements would break. The first noted arlitiresisting force in the cleaning device, or rather, in its spring, wouldincrease throughout its rock-clearing movements, and the second notedstructurewas objectionable because it required the cleaning device orscraper to be re-set by hand after each yielding-action.

in accordance with my present invention, I provide a rotatable cleaningdevice or scraper that exerts maximum resist-ance to movement when inits normal position, that is released by its initial movement fromnormal position, that thereafter moves freely to re-set position, andthat will be automatically 11e-set by continuation of its rotation inthe same direction in'which it is forced from normal position. Thisimproved cleaning device, illustrated, is especially designed andparticularly adapted for use in connection with excavators or ditchersof the type disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent #1,287,675, of dateDecember 17, l98, entitled Excavator, and in this form, involvesadditional features of novelty; but, obviously, the inhere rangement wasobjectionable because thel vention is capable of much more extended use.

Alin the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation, with some parts sectioned randsome parts broken away, showing the application of my ,improved cleaningdevice to a ditcher or excavator of the character above indicated;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken approximatelyon the iine 2 2 of Fig. l, but with some parts in full; y

Fig 3 is a fragmentary section taken approximately on the line 3-,3 ofFig. i;

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing` the righthand scraper-supportingbracket; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the lefthand scraper or rotary elementof the cleaning` device.

Cf the parts of the excavator, in so far as they are shown, the numeral6 indicates a horizontal portion of the framework to which is journaledone of the transverse conveyor shafts 7, which, as shown, carries apolygonal sprocket wheel 8. rfhe numeral 9 indicates a heavy sprocketchain of the link beit type that runs over the sprocket 8 and overco-operating and driving means, not shown. Certain of the links of thechain 9 carry outstanding arms l0, to the flanged outer ends of whichexcavating devices herein designated as spades 1l are rigidly secured.r)These spades are curved on such lines that they are approximatelyconcentric to the axis of the shaft 7 while passing` around the same.The spade-carrying arms l0, transversely of their plane of movement, arenarrow, and within their plane of movement have sufficient extension togive desired strength.

In this preferred arrangement, the cleaning device comprises twoscrap-ers obliqucly set one on each side of the plane of movement of thearms l0. Each scraper has a plurality of blades or operative ends. inthe preferred arrangement, each such scraper comprises a'double-endedarm 12 provided at opposite ends with "tf-pointed scraper biades i3preferably slightiy curved in the plane of the arm. At their ventralportions, the scraper arms l2 are provided with sleevearound the boltand is compressed be-l 'tween the washer 22 and a washer 24 that likehubs 14 vj ournaled on bolts 15 that work freely through the obliquefaces 16 of supporting brackets 17 that are bolted Vor otherwise rigidlysecuredy to the frame 6. 0n

their oblique faces, the brackets k17 are formed with lannular flanges18 and with diametrically opposite stopl lugs 19. opposite sides of itshub 14, each scraper arm 12 is provided with stop lugs 42Oy that arevadapted to engage the stop lugs 19 of the brackets 17 and thereby stopthe scraper in its operative position shown in Fig. 1. The lugs -19 and20 are beveled preferably on both sides, foran important purpose whichwill presently appear. A j

At its extended end, the pivot bolt 15 is provided with a nut 21 andco-operating' washer 22. A coiled spring 23 is placed is placed directlyagainst theend ofthe hub 14 and is adapted to engage the adjacent faceflange 16 of the co-operating bracket 17. A washer 25 is vshown asplaced between the head of the bolt 15 and the adjacent face v of thescraper arm 12. l

Here it is importa-nt to note that Lthe sleeve-'likehubs 14 of the.scraper arms 12 k.are of' such length that when the scrapers are innormal position or in any other position, except when the lugs20 arebeing forced over thelugs 19, the springs 23 will press the washers 24against the hubs 14 but will not frictionallypress the arms 12againstthe supporting brackets. Hence, the Scrapers will freely moveexcept when the stop lugs 19 and 20 are in contact.

The tension of the springs 23-will be so ladjusted that the beveled stoplugs 19 and 40"' 2O will hold the scrapers in operative positions,against all such forces as will be exertedA in the normal scraping orcleaning action, such as required to dislodge from the j excavatorspades or blades all sticky earth,

and the like. lf, however, a rock of considerable size should be carriedagainst one or the other of thescrapers and should exert a force thereonsomewhat closely approachn ing the breaking point, then the beveledengaging faces of the lugs 19 and 20 will cause the scraper arms to movelaterally against the tension of the springs 23, and thus the lugs 20will be caused to ride over the lugs 19 and the-engaged scraper arm willmove" rotatively and permitthe rock to pass. The

rock, in passing, will turn the opposite end of the scraper arm into thepath of movement of the load on the next excavating spade so that thefollowing load will complete the movement ofthe scraper into operativeposition where the lugs. 19 and 2O again become engaged.

'Obviously with the bevel-ended scraper arm, the scrapers will be givenhalf rota-1 tion for each tripping or releasing moveinfluence thetripping action. Otherwise stated, the greater the bevel ofsaid lugs,the

greater mustbe the tensionv of the springs k23 to set the Scraperstotrip under any desired force. 1

The scrapers or trated in the drawings are in a veryvnovel `relativearrangement for'the particular application illustrated, and, inpracticefhas been found .very highly efficient for 'such' purpose.However, theinvention isV capable .cleaning devices illus-l se l of manymodications to adapt themk fory n :other or different applications oruses.

The rotary scraper arms illustrated in the.; drawings are nmade inrights andv lefts and the` lugs 19'and20 are 'beveled on both sides sothat, by transferring or interchanging said rotaryscraper arms, they maybe used regardless of the direction in which theendz less conveyor beltand its excavator spades -or devices arearranged to'travel. A n 'l WhatI claiml is: 1 n 1. An excavator cleaning device comprising a rotarymember havinga plurality of projecting Scrapers, and a yielding stopadapted to be overcome by excessive pressure to Vpermit saidscraper-equipped member to rotate in a constant direction from oneoperative position to another.

2. The construction defined vin claimflin which said scraper-equippedmember is free for rotation except when nstopped in anoperativeposition. Y

3. The combinationwith an endless excavating belt, of acleaning devicetherefor comprising a rotary member equipped withk a pluralityofscrapers, co-operating'stops.

for stopping said `rotary member' with a scraper thereofin operativeposition, and a stops co-active but permitting said stops to pass'underexcessive pressure.

which said spring tension device is held out of action except wheiioneof said Istopsis forced past the other.r

' 5. An excavating belt in combination with a cleaning device comprisingav bearing bracket, a .bolt y passed therethrough, a scraper armp'ivoted on said bolt-'and having a plurality of projecting scraperblades,

said arm having a hub projecting slightly"- through said bracket. saidarm and bracket having co-acting bevel stop lugs, and a spring tensiondevice yieldingly holding said 4. The construction defined in claim'` 3`in i spring anchored to said bolt normallT pressing against the hub ofsaid arm and arranged to re-act upon said bracket when seid stop lugsare being forced the one past the other.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which said stop lugs arebeveled on both sides thereby making the cleaning device reversible inrespect to the operative direction of rotation. v

7. rlhe combination with an excavator bel provided with projecting arms,and excavating spades or blades carried by and projecting on both sidesof the outer ends ox said arms, of a cleaning device comprising tworotarj,T scraper arms obliqiiely set on opposite sides of seid belt andeach provided with a plurality of projecting scraper blades arranged towork in the angles between said arms and spades, said arms beingrotatable in a constant direction, and yielding stop devices forintercepting rotation of said arms and to stop the same with certain ofthe Scrapers thereof in operative positions.

ln testimony whereof I aiiiX mv signature. 25

GEORGE H. GREIMAN.

